Apparatus for selecting an optimum access point in a wireless network on a common channel
First Claim
1. Apparatus included in a wireless device in a wireless communications environment including multiple access points and stations, wherein stations gain network access by associating with one of the access points, comprising:
- logic for associating the wireless device with a current access point operating on a first channel;
logic for ascertaining whether the wireless device should attempt to associate with an alternative access point, the ascertaining based at least in-part on a level of attenuation by the alternative access point of signal strength of transmissions from the alternative access point where the alternative access point transmits at less than full power; and
logic for requesting association with the alternative access point if the logic for ascertaining ascertains that the wireless device should attempt to associate with said alternative access point.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The performance and ease of management of wireless communications environments is improved by a mechanism that enables access points (APs) to perform automatic channel selection. A wireless network can therefore include multiple APs, each of which will automatically choose a channel such that channel usage is optimized. Furthermore, APs can perform automatic power adjustment so that multiple APs can operate on the same channel while minimizing interference with each other. Wireless stations are load balanced across APs so that user bandwidth is optimized. A movement detection scheme provides seamless roaming of stations between APs.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. Apparatus included in a wireless device in a wireless communications environment including multiple access points and stations, wherein stations gain network access by associating with one of the access points, comprising:
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logic for associating the wireless device with a current access point operating on a first channel; logic for ascertaining whether the wireless device should attempt to associate with an alternative access point, the ascertaining based at least in-part on a level of attenuation by the alternative access point of signal strength of transmissions from the alternative access point where the alternative access point transmits at less than full power; and logic for requesting association with the alternative access point if the logic for ascertaining ascertains that the wireless device should attempt to associate with said alternative access point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification